Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-08-13


black snake gIided on again and reached the
other thistle tuft. which was within couple
of PAGES of his return beat.
Back came the sentry, and strolled right
past the tuft utterly unconscious of the pres
ence that was crouching behind it Had he
looked down he could scarcely have failed to
see, but he did not do so.
He passed, and then his hidden enemy
erected himself and with outstretched hand
followed in his tracks
moment more, and, just as the Elmoran
was about to turn, the great Zulu made a
spring, and in the growing ligh. we could see
his long, lean hands close round the MaSai's
throat Then followed convulsive twining
of the two dark bodies, and in another sec
ond / saw the Masai's head bent back and
heard sharp crack, something like that of a
dry twig swapping, and he fell down upon
the ground, his limbs moving systematically.
Umslopogaas Lad put out all his iron
strength and broken the warriors neck.
For moment he knelt upon his victim,
still gripping his throat till he was sure that
there was nothing moro to fear from him,
and then he rose and beckoned to us to adj
vance, which we did on all fours, like a col
ony Of huge apes. On reaching the kraal we
saw that the Nasal had still further choked
this entrance, which was about ten feet wide
no doubt in order to guard against attack
by dragging four or five tops of mimosa trees
up to it, So much the better for us, re-
Elected; the more obstruction there was the
slower would they be able to come through.
Hero we separated Mackenzie and his party
creeping up under the shadow of the wall to
IL,
took their stations one on each side of the
thorn fence, the two spearmen and the Askari
lying down in front of it. and my men
crept on up the right side of the kraal, which
was about fifty PAGES long.
When l was two-thirds up halted, and
placed my men at distances Of four PAGES
from one another, keeping Alphonse close to
me, however. Then l peeped for the first
time over the wall. 1t was getting fairly
light now, and the first thing saw was the
white donkey, exactly opposite TO me, and
close by it could make out the pale face Of
little Flosse, who was sitting as the lad had
described, some ten PAGES from the wall.
Round her lay many warriors, sleeping. At
distances all over the surface of the kraal
were the remains Of fires, round each of
which slept some five-and-twenty Nasal, for
INC IlOSb Idlb SOIEbu WIN lOOu NOW ana
then man would raise himself, yawn, and
look at the east, which had now turned prim-
rose; but none got up. | determined to wait
another five minutes, both to allow the light
to increase, so that we could make better
shooting, and to give Good and his party, of
whom | could see or hear nothing, every
opportunity to make ready.
Suddenly, just as was nerving myself for
for the signal, having already selected my
man on whom meant to open fire--a great
fellow sprawling ON tho ground within three
feet or little F1ossIe--Alphonse's teeth began
to chatter again like the hoo,s of galloping
giraffe, making great noise in the silence
The rag had dropped out in the agitation of
his mind. Instantly Maaa within three
PAGES Of us woke, and sstting up, gazed
about him, looking for the cause of the sound.
Moved beyond myself, brought the butt end
of my rifle down on the pit of the French
mans stomach. This stopped his chattering;
but, as he doubled up, he managed to let Off
his gun in such a manner that the bullet
passed within an inch of my head.
There was no need for signal now. From
both sides of the kraal broke out a waving
line of fire, in which myself joined, manag-